shame at myself. Just then, when my confidence was the weakest, and when I hoped the least, such an abundant supply was afforded! "O thou of little faith!" I seemed to hear my Lord and Saviour say; and deeply felt in my heart the confounding effects of such an address. I then sought, without delay, to liquidate wholly my smaller debts, and reduce the larger ones. I felt extremely happy in so doing, although I remained in a destitute situation, and could not apply any part of the money to the needful clothing of my family; but was obliged to obtain goods upon credit, which I did however with a lighter heart, from having discharged so many of my debts. My faith was greatly strengthened by this distinguished and glorious help of God; so that I said to myself, "If I am now ever weak in faith again, or despond in any new distress, I shall blaspheme God."

CHAPTER VI.

HOPES OF PREFERMENT-SICKNESS-CLOSE OF

THE YEAR.

Extract of a Letter from my dear friend H——r, dated 5th October, 1800.

"KIND remembrances from Mr. Pl-— of E. He visited me during the fair; the conversation turned upon you; I showed him the probation-sermons you sent me, which you preached in W. He requested the loan of them during the second week of the fair, but illness prevented my sending them till last Thursday, when he was about leaving. He asked permission to take the sermons home with him, promising to return them in a fortnight. But now hear what follows. I expressed the wish that you might obtain some other living. 'I know of one,' said Pl, suddenly interrupting me; 'the German preacher in London is dead;

I will recommend our friend there, and the best recommendation will be these sermons, which I shall send thither.' I took this for a joke; but he rejoined 'No, no! the German church in London always chooses a native German for its preacher.' But, said I, the Londoners must first extricate our worthy friend from his difficulties, and then pay his travelling expenses. 'O,' rejoined Pl

money for that.'

'there will be no want of This, my dear friend, is the What Pl

faithful account of the matter. will now do I know not."

Mr. Pl- -'s intention was good, but I was deficient in several necessary qualifications; and that vacancy could not have been filled by a more worthy individual than the universally esteemed Dr. Steinkopff, to whom may the Lord grant long life and health for the extension and increase of his kingdom!

A TWOFOLD TRIAL THROUGH SICKNESS.

It was in the beginning of December, 1802, that we received, through a woman from a neighbouring place, the intelligence that our son Frederick in -, was dangerously ill, and wished that some one of the family might be with him. This was a new species of trial, which I had not before experienced, having

always enjoyed, with my whole family, the best health. This news disturbed me much, but my dear wife still more. Being unwilling to trust entirely to this verbal information, I immediately wrote to H- -r, who replied, "That Frederick had certainly suffered from a violent bilious fever, but, by due medical care and attention, the disorder had disappeared, and Frederick would write himself in a few days." He did so shortly afterwards, to our great relief, and was unable to say enough in praise of the affection and care he had experienced from his masters, as well as from every member of the household.

Scarcely had this passed over, when an extremely violent catarrhal fever overpowered me, in such a manner that I was obliged to keep my bed from the 16th to the 19th of December. The Lord, however, blessed the means used, so that on the 20th I could again leave my bed a little; but was then seized with a dry cough, accompanied with great pain in the chest, which weakened me extremely, and deprived me of all appetite. I was obliged to procure a supply to preach for me on the fourth Sunday in Advent; but on Christmas-day I preached myself, although with great difficulty. The love of my adorable Redeemer strengthened me beyond expectation; and I have reason to hope that the festival of his birth did not pass over without some blessing for my hearers.

END OF THE YEAR 1800.

31st December.-This day terminates another year of my earthly pilgrimage. When I look back upon the days of the year that is past, I find innumerable reasons to abase and humble myself, but equal cause to praise God and my Saviour Jesus Christ. Ah, how much weakness and unfaithfulness-what sloth and disinclination to good-how much self-will and self-love -how little delight and fervour in prayer-how frequent the triumphs of my corrupt heart, pride, and self-righteousness: in one word, how many sins do I behold! and how numerous may have been the unperceived sins of this year! All this wakes up in me this day; I cast myself in the dust at the feet of my adorable and compassionate Saviour, and pray, with David," Lord, enter not into judgment with thy servant; for in thy sight shall no flesh living be justified!" How unhappy should I be were I to feel my sins, and my conscience were to place them as a mountain before my eyes, and I knew of no refuge-if I knew HIм not, who once shed his blood on Calvary for my sins, and gave himself up as a satisfactory atonement -if I still lay under the curse of the law, and were unacquainted with Him who bore my curse upon the cross! Ah, how indescribably